Page 76 of The Mad Highlander
The warmth of the dozens of bodies did little to warm the cold air of the depths. Candles flickered on the walls, and there were more candles in reserve.
“Maither, what happens if we run out of candles and the men are still fighting?” Robyn asked.
“That won’t happen, me dear,” Margot replied.
Robyn’s eyes were a little wider than they usually were as if she were permanently a little scared by something. In the circumstances, that was understandable.
“Aye, but what if that does happen?” Robyn pushed.
Margot smiled some more, taking her daughter by the arm and leading her gently and slowly toward the chair that had been placed especially for Margot. Iris went with them.
“Robyn,” Margot hissed quietly but with some force, “ye cannae talk like that. I ken how ye feel, but our duty down here is to protect everyone. They are fightin’ up there with Cayden leadin’ the charge. We lead the charge down here, all right? We need to keep our spirits up. Aye, there is a chance that the candles willrun out and we will be plunged into darkness, or there willnae be enough water and we’ll go thirsty, but we dinnae mention such things, all right?”
Robyn looked down at the earthen floor and nodded her head sharply. She looked back up, her eyes still wide but filled with a little guilt. She chewed on her bottom lip, trying not to look around the room.
“Aye, I’ll try,” Robyn said.
“Guid lass,” Margot replied.
“Was there any word from Hunter afore we came down here?” Iris asked.
“There was so much goin’ on that I wasnae keepin’ track of what was what,” Margot admitted. “I ken Hunter, and I ken he will fight side by side with Cayden.”
“Aye,” Iris said firmly. She could tell what Margot was doing, and she did the same in return.
Margot sat on the chair and surveyed the room. There was only one way in or out. Stone walls surrounded them with a stone ceiling above. The door was locked, but it would take a couple of men less than thirty seconds to break it down. They had thought of using the dungeons, but they would be broken into also. There was little difference between a few more minutes of safety.
There were other rooms with women and children. Still, looking around the room, it felt like they were the last of their people.
“Why don’t ye fetch a cup of water for yer maither,” Iris suggested. “It will be good for the people to see her actin’ normal and will stop them from panickin’.”
“Aye.” Robyn nodded—she was happy to have something to do. She was restless already. She headed toward the middle of the room to retrieve a little of the water that had been brought down.
Iris placed her hand over Margot’s. “Ye give them all strength.”
“That is our role,” Margot admitted.
“Ye can be strong in front of them, but ye dinnae need to be strong in front of me.”
“Och, I’m fine.” Margot waved her hand in the air and looked away.
“Yer nae fine,” Iris told her. “I ken this is hard for ye. Ye already lost one son, and ye dinnae want to lose another. I dinnae want to lose him either. I love him.”
Margot looked up at Iris. Her eyes were wet, but happiness shone behind the tears. “Aye, I love him, too.” She took Iris’ hand and squeezed it. “Thank ye, me dear.”
“I should have told him.” Iris felt her heart skip a beat. “I spent some time with him last night, and I was too scared to say it. I had too much on me mind. How could I admit that and then watch him go off to fight?”
“I dinnae have a chance to say anythin’ to him either before he marched off this mornin’, but let me tell ye one thing: he kens. He kens that I love him, and that Robyn loves him, and he will ken that. He kens how ye feel about him, and he feels the same way about ye.”
“So ye think?” Iris felt Robyn returning with the water.
Margot smiled sincerely and patted Iris’ hand. “Aye, he kens. He will be thinkin’ about ye now as he goes out there to fight, and let me tell ye another thing: love is a powerful force. I dinnae doubt me son, but I doubt him even less kennin’ that he has someone to return to.”
“I pray he comes back to us,” Iris said.
“Give me yer hand.” Margot looked up at Robyn when she returned. “Put the water down for now, and give me yer hand, too.”
Iris and Robyn did as they were told, clasping hands with Margot. When Margot bowed her head, the two younger ladies did the same. Margot muttered a short prayer under her breath. The three heads remained bowed until the prayer was done.
